IV Programming

International Visitors spend six days in Toronto, arriving for the first Sunday of the Festival.

The first full day of their visit, Monday, features a publisher-hosted breakfast and a morning of meetings, a lunch and an afternoon industry event at Harbourfront Centre as part of the Festival. Visitors have further opportunities to build relationships with Canadian industry members during a publisher-hosted cocktail hour. On Monday evening, following the official IFOA Welcome Party, they attend the Governor General’s Literary Award for English Language Fiction finalists reading.

Tuesday’s schedule matches day one, except that visitors tour a few Canadian publishing houses and agencies as well as attending the evening’s traditional IFOA authors’ dinner, where they can interact with Canadian and international writers.

Wednesday features a trip to Niagara Falls, where visitors can once again interact with the Festival participants.

Thursday, they are invited on a tour to various local bookstores around the city. IV guests are also encouraged to set their own meetings with publishing professionals and tour the city at their leisure.

Friday, the official visit ends. Of course, visitors are welcome to stay and enjoy the Festival on their own after the Programme has finished.

During 2015's IV Programme, our participants enjoyed a talk by Canadian author/academic Rosemary Sullivan. For the full transcribed speech please click here.

What are the dates of the programme?The programme takes place during the 39th annual International Festival of Authors (October 18 – October 28, 2018) and lasts for six days.

The dates for the 2018 programme are: Sunday, October 21 to Friday, October 26.